Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-12
A COUNCIL OF BISHOPS.
CATHOLIC DlGNlTARlES AND THE
LABOR QUESTION.
a Remarkable Gathering to take Place In
New York in September Georges
gaud Theories to be discussed
A Pastoral Letter.
New York Cor. Boston RecordJ


A Pastoral Letter.
New York Cor. Boston Record.)
The council of archbishops and bishops
y,t the Catholic church in America for the
purpose of considering and passing on the
labor problem will, at the latest, occur
here early in September and will be a
gathering of very remarkable men. The
result of their deliberations will unques-
ttopablv have deep effect on the present
movement of labor in politics. Their de-
alterations will be in secret and at their
conclusion a pastoral letter addressed to
She faithful will let the Catholics know
just where the heads of their church
stand on the labor question. Henry
G;eorge and his followers will do well to
watch this pastoral letter, for it is likely
40 be loaded for bear of about their species
ID will come at a time when they are grid
ine up their loins for another battle at the
,nHlls, and it will influence more votes than
.TaOst persons are aware OF.
The most striking figure In any such
gathering is of course the primate of the
American church, Cardinal Gibbons. when
surrounded by men like the gigantic
Archbishop Feehan of Chicago, and the
Ryan of Philadelphia, the physical nferi-
Crity of the cardinal is plainly shown.
Mentally, however, he ranks with the
foremost of all the hierarchy. while at
Rome his influence is greater than that of
any American prelate.
Archbishop COrrigan, who, by reason of
mis- Office should come next to the cardi-
zal lie point of prominence, is by no means
inclined to believe with the latter with
regard to the Knights and several other
rg.atters The archbishop is not in love
with the labor movement as II stands.
lie is of the opinion that 1t is being manip-
5ilated by George and McGlynn for their
rpn purposes, and he sees no good in 1t.
2 / is an open secret that Archbishop Coz o.
eigan is one of the two archblshops who
yoted to haN e Rome place the knights
.lnder the ban. -
Archbishop Williams of Boston is the
nestOr of the American hierarchy He is
square in figure and head and is straight
forward and direct in everything that he
does. He is not given to talking, although
be is fair pulpit orator. 1t Is told OF
aAim that in the last great plenary council
at Baltimore, when ecclesiastical lawyers
would fall to wrangling over some knotty
point in canon law, the old bishop
would lean back in his chair, close his
eyes and listen for fair length of time,
when he would interrupt with the dry re-
mark; well, gentlemen, | think We've
heard about enough of canon law on this
subject Suppose we get down to the
common sense of the thing" And the
grizzled, matter-of-fa fact prelate usually
had his way.
1t was Archbishop Williams who, when
last in Rome, was asked by one of the
Italian cardinals if he did not go to Rome
from America via the Isthmus of Pdna-
ma. The archbishop gravely replied that
ne did. One of his conscientious Amerl-
can brethren expressed surprise that the
archbishop should deviate from the
truth.
"Pshaw ~ calculated the bluff old pre-
late, lit isn't worth while to do otherwise
with such ignoramuses."
In the matter of physique, Archbishop
Feehan of Chicago looms up head and
shoulders over his brethren, being about
8 feet inches tall and proportionately
hzilt. His size and appearance when he
attended the last council in Rome created
somewhat of a sensation among the pu-
nier attaches of the Vatican. His expert
ences with the labor troubles and riots in
Chicago have prejudiced him against the
* nights, and it Is said to have been his
voice that joined that of Archbishop Cor
-igan in condemning them. Archbishop
Eeehan is one of the youngest prelates.
Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia IS the
orator of the A american hierarchy. He is
"A magnificent specimen of manhood,
standing full six feet high, and build like
an athlete A distinguishing feature in
mis- appearance is his large head, which Is
auburn locks are frequently joked about
10y his brethren but that does not annoy
him. He preached the sermon in St
Patricks Cathedral when Archbishop
Gibbons was invested with the reu nat of
The cardinalate. On this occasion Phila-
Ieiphian and a BaltlmOrean met. and the
latter is said to have boosted OF the honor
Drought to this city by the red hat
"Pshaw ~ retorteG the Philadelphia,
keep your red hat We've got an arch
tishop with a red head"
ON the labor question Archbishop Ryan
stands with Cardinal Gibbons. The other
;trcabishops occupy the same position.
The prelates named are the leaders in the
church both in point of ability and influ-
9ut'
S.,e of the German bishops are more
-ol -rvative, and are inclined to oppose
any organization similar to the knights.
Bishop Gilmour, the Scotch bishop oil
Cleveland, a conservative, who has Seve
raj times distinguished himself by causing
whole parishes to be communicated Al
one swoop and who is Dr. McGlynn's arcf
enemy, is inclined to agree with the Ger
mans.
rThese prelates claim that there are near
" 10000, 600 Catholics in the United State
subject to their spiritual authority. II
che larger cities many Catholics may b
doCad who for the nonce may take u
with George and socialism. The bulk o
Catholics will follow tradition, their natu
raj sentiments and their bishops II thes
latter should in an open pastoral lette
Genounce George, the latter would fin
.tep7 Catholics to follow him afterward.